stax wrote:
ok so you have a tv in your house but only use it for say dvd/games console etc , do you still need a tv licence?
its a legal grey area which has been subject to debate over the years and changing policies.. – the authorities did argue that as it contains the RF [radio frequency] circuitry that can pick up the TV signal over the air – you needed the license just for having the equipment (TV set), whether you use the RF section or not to receive the signals.
n the 1980s people did occasionally use this blag as well but then the Govts lawyers picked up on a change in the electronic design of some TV receivers so withdrew the loophole.
Ofcom have since changed their policy since 2003 –
if you definitely only use the TV for non-broadcast receiption you can argue against paying the license – but they expect you to write into TV licensing giving them the reason why you don’t think you should have a license, to disconnect all antenna cables from the TV, and to retune all the channels of the TV receiver to blank spaces.
TBH you don’t have to write to them but I suspect that if you do not and they are doing checks in your street they are more likely to search your house and inspect the equipment to check you aren’t blagging it.
if they find any antenna cables or a TV which still has its channels set they could still try and bust you.
